You can bottom water succulents and get good results, but it is not always better than top watering. Both methods work well when you have pots with drainage holes and gritty soil. The best choice depends on your plant type, your pot setup, and how much time you want to spend. I use both methods with my collection and switch based on the plant.
I ran a test last year with two groups of echeveria plants. One group got top watering every time. The other group got bottom watering. After 6 months, both groups looked healthy and grew at the same rate. The bottom watered plants had roots that grew a bit deeper toward the pot bottom. The top watered plants had more roots spread through the upper soil.
Here is how bottom watering plants works. You fill a tray or bowl with about 2 inches of water. You set your pot in the water and let it sit for 15 to 30 minutes. The soil pulls water up through the drainage holes. You can watch the top of the soil and see it change color when moisture reaches it. Then you lift the pot out and let it drain.
Bottom watering has some real benefits worth knowing. It keeps water off fuzzy leaves that can rot when wet. It prevents mineral spots on waxy leaves that look ugly. It soaks the entire root ball evenly from bottom to top. And it can help train roots to grow deeper as they reach down for water. These benefits make it great for certain plants.
When I compare succulent watering methods, top watering has its own perks. You can see the water flow through and know your soil drains well. You flush out salt buildup from fertilizers that collect in the soil. You spend less time waiting for soil to absorb moisture. And you can water many plants fast without setting up trays and bowls.
I bottom water succulents with fuzzy or powdery leaves. Varieties like echeveria have a dusty coating called farina that protects them from sun. Water drops wash this coating off and leave ugly marks. Bottom watering keeps the leaves dry and their coating intact. This matters most for show plants you want to look their best.
I top water my tough succulent types with thick waxy leaves. Jade plants, sedums, and aloes do fine with water on their leaves. It runs right off without damage. I can water 20 plants in the time it takes to bottom water 5. When you have a big collection, this time savings adds up fast.
Soil type matters with both succulent watering methods. Very gritty soil absorbs water fast from the bottom. Dense soil takes forever to pull moisture up. If you use a 50/50 mix of potting soil and perlite, bottom watering works fine. If your soil has more organic matter, stick with top watering to make sure you wet the whole root ball.
Pot material affects how fast soil soaks up water. Terracotta pots are porous and absorb some water through their walls. This can speed up bottom watering. Plastic and glazed pots only take in water through the bottom holes. You may need to soak them longer to fully wet the soil. Watch the soil surface to know when enough water has moved up.
Some growers worry that bottom watering plants causes salt buildup in soil. Water moving up can leave minerals behind at the surface. I deal with this by top watering once a month even on plants I mostly bottom water. This flushes salts down and out of the pot. It keeps soil healthy long term.
If you want to bottom water succulents in groups, use a wide flat tray. Line up several small pots and add water to the tray. Let them all soak at once. This works great for windowsill plants. You can water many plants in one batch. Just make sure all the pots are similar sizes so they finish soaking around the same time.
Choose your watering method based on your needs. Bottom watering works best for fuzzy leaves, deep root growth, and thorough soaking. Top watering works best for quick checks, salt flushing, and large collections. Many growers like me use both methods depending on the plant and the day. There is no single right answer here.
Read the full article: Caring for Succulents: Tips for Thriving Plants
